Throughout the year, your heat pump works hard to keep you comfortable by heating and cooling your home. It’s important to take the time to schedule a licensed technician to inspect your system and ensure it runs smoothly, regardless of the weather outside.
To maintain optimum functionality, you should receive professional maintenance twice a year. Here, we’ll discuss what you can expect during a tune-up, the benefits of maintenance and how you can keep it running smoothly between professional services.
Key Takeaways
- Regular maintenance allows your technician to complete a thorough inspection, ensure functionality and address small issues before they become major problems.
- You can increase the lifespan of your system with regular maintenance and prevent costly repairs.
- As a homeowner, you can also perform some basic maintenance tasks like keeping the outdoor unit free from debris and cleaning air filters.
Differences Between Heat Pumps & Traditional HVAC Systems
In the past, the standard setup for most homes was often an HVAC system featuring a separate air conditioner and heater. These systems each had their own unique mechanical structure and would operate depending on the season.
However, heat pumps can bridge this gap by performing both jobs in a streamlined system. They can also help you reduce the amount of equipment in your home. Because these systems don’t produce heat using combustion and instead use a renewable source, they are also environmentally friendly.
Types of Heat Pumps
There are three main types of systems, and each one uses different sources to heat or cool your house.
Air-Source
Air-source systems use refrigerant to transfer heat from the outside to the inside of your house during colder seasons and vice versa during the summer. They work best in homes that feature central ductwork. Air-source systems are also available as ductless models.
Ductless mini-split models are ideal for homes without central ductwork since they don’t need it to operate. They are also great for heating and cooling smaller spaces like specific rooms. Air-source systems are cost-effective and suitable for moderate climates.
Ground-Source (Geothermal)
Ground-source systems use the earth’s temperature to heat or cool your home since the ground is often cooler during the summer and warmer in the winter. You often find these systems in homes with enough space to install underground piping. These types of systems are quiet, reliable and highly efficient. They may also reduce energy costs.
Absorption
An absorption heat pump system uses a heat source other than electricity, such as solar power, natural gas or geothermally heated water. They use thermal energy to power the refrigeration cycle.
These systems are highly efficient, versatile in their ability to source heat and can potentially save you money. They are best suited for homes and buildings where there is limited access to electricity or if you prefer to use solar or geothermal energy.
How Often Do These Systems Need Maintenance?
Ideally, you should schedule routine maintenance by a professional technician twice a year. Although all HVAC systems should receive annual maintenance at the minimum, inspecting your system in the winter and summer can help you ensure that it continues to run optimally. Twice-yearly maintenance can also extend its lifespan, saving you money in the long run.
What To Expect During a Tune-Up
During a tune-up, our licensed technicians will arrive with a detailed checklist. Our goal is to leave you with a reliable system that will provide you with efficient heating and cooling throughout the year.
Your maintenance checklist will include the following steps:
- Inspecting and cleaning the coils, air ducts, filters and motor blower
- Checking for the presence of leaky air ducts and sealing damaged ones
- Adjusting your refrigerant levels
- Lubricating the motor
- Checking the belts for wear and damage
- Inspecting the thermostat to ensure effective heating and cooling
- Tightening any loose electrical connections
- Final run-through of tests to optimize your system’s performance
In most cases, our professional technicians can conduct any repairs immediately if we detect issues with your system.
Benefits of Twice-Yearly Maintenance
When you schedule tune-ups twice annually, you’re able to address any minor problems before they become major headaches. Scheduling a tune-up every six months can also help counteract wear and tear on your system, which is cost-effective since regular maintenance allows it to last longer.
Twice-yearly tune-ups boost your system’s energy efficiency and overall performance. They can also lead to decreased energy bills and a more comfortable home, regardless of the season.
How To Maintain Your System Between Tune-Ups
In between professional tune-ups, there are several things you can do to help maintain the integrity of your system. Regularly clean your pump’s air filter to prevent serious problems that can occur due to dirt, pollen and other matter. A clogged filter may cause your system to malfunction.
By remembering to change your air filter on a regular basis, you can help prevent mechanical damage and costly repairs. Ideally, you should swap out your air filter once per month. However, if you have pets or smoke, you may need to change it out more frequently.
Schedule Routine Heat Pump Maintenance With One Hour Clearwater
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating suggests scheduling routine maintenance twice yearly to ensure your system remains reliable throughout the seasons. This can help you catch minor problems before they become significant ones.
Our team of professionals adheres to a comprehensive checklist to ensure we can identify and address any damage or wear or tear on the spot. If you need heat pump maintenance, call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating today. We prioritize the comfort of our customers, which is why we’re always on time or you don’t pay a dime.